Douglas County Commissioners endorsed the proposed governance structure and bylaws of Behavioral Health Partners, Inc. during their Sept. 9 meeting. Behavioral Health Partners, Inc., a nonprofit partnership between LMH Health and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, will provide leadership, clinical oversight and operational management of the crisis recovery center on the Treatment and Recovery Campus of Douglas County.
District Court Judge Mark Simpson and Data Analyst Matt Cravens provided a presentation about arrests for failure to appear in court during the Sept. 8 meeting of the Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. They talked about how these arrests impact the Douglas County Correctional Facility.
Simpson began the presentation by explaining the different types of bonds and how bail is set for municipal and district courts. He also reviewed how the state statutes direct the courts to apply bonds.
Douglas County buildings are open to the public. The public should wear a face covering when inside buildings and maintain six feet of distance between employees and others in the building. Departments and elected officials may have additional screening tools for clients and visitors, depending on the services provided.
Building upon Douglas County’s use of the Unified Command structure to lead a comprehensive COVID-19 pandemic response, local government, health, education and business leaders will partner to provide a coordinated reopening and response strategy among education institutions. The goals: protect students, staff, and faculty; reduce community impacts; and, minimize disease spread. Leaders of Douglas County, City of Lawrence, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, LMH Health, University of Kansas, Lawrence Public Schools and The Chamber will participate.
Douglas County announced today its continued commitment to reduce the number of people in the Douglas County Correctional Facility who have mental illnesses by participating in the newest initiative from Stepping Up, Set, Measure, Achieve - a nationwide call to action to reduce the prevalence of mental illness in local justice systems.
The multi-year effort will focus on creating measurable reductions to the Douglas County Corrections Facility population with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and achieving:
Douglas County is one of 13 communities in the country to receive the first Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Grant from the USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and has been awarded nearly $90,000 to work on food resource recovery.
Route 1055 from west of East 1700 Road to North 790 Road will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, July 20, weather permitting, for a road project. The project includes reconstruction of pavement and safety improvements including paved shoulders, flatter roadside slopes, and replacement of two narrow bridges and one culvert. Public Works anticipates construction will be completed by Thanksgiving 2020, weather permitting.
Route 1055 (East 1500 Road) — from Route 458 (North 1000 Road) to North 1175 Road — will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, June 15, weather permitting, for construction of a road rehabilitation project. The project includes pavement rehabilitation and safety improvements including paved shoulders, flatter roadside slopes, and replacement of narrow culverts. Public Works anticipates construction will be completed by Thanksgiving 2020, weather permitting.
Starting September 21, Route 7 (East 1125 Road) will be closed to all traffic just north of North 1876 Road, for a culvert repair project. The project is located at Lakeview Lake, just north of Lawrence. The project includes superstructure and deck replacement with pre-cast concrete box beams. Douglas County Public Works anticipates construction will be completed in November. No signed detour will be provided.
The State of Kansas approved today, Sept. 9, Douglas County’s plan for distributing $24.9 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to the community. The plan includes funding for 155 programs ranging from coronavirus testing and personal protective equipment to small business grants and Lawrence Community Shelter improvements.
Courthouse:
1100 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Judicial and Law Enforcement Center:
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
